Combined mop holder and wringer.



- F. 0. TABBOX.

COMBINED MOP HOLDER AND WRINGER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1911.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M'inwses: M a. 2M, 0 2

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO7. WASHINGTON}: D. c.

F. 0. TARBOX. COMBINED MOP HOLDER AND WBINGBR.

1 022 8 2 AIiELIOATIOH nun JULY 31, 191-1. Patented pt 912.

I SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0.,wASHINa1'0N, D. c.

FRED O. TARBOX, 0F HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINED MOP HOLDER AND WRINGE'R.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Application filed July 31, 1911. Serial No. 641,401.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED O. TARBox, a citizen of the 'United States, residing at Haverhill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Combined Mop Holders and Wringers, of which the following is a specification. A

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of mops which are pro vided. with means for mechanically wringing the mop-cloth. Mops of this type, which have been extensively placed on the market, have generally comprised two types ;1st, those in which a wringing frame, which passes between the folds of the mop-cloth, is slidably and rotatably mounted on the handle, so that, when the mop is in use, the frame may be slid back on the handle out of the way, and when the cloth is to be wrung, the frame is slid down on the handle, to distend the cloth, and is then rotated on the handle, to twist the cloth, or wring it. 2nd, those in which one end of the mopcloth is supported on a frame held in fixed position on the handle and the other end is connected by a hookwhich is adapted to be rotated by means of-gears, mounted on the handle. While the type first referred to possesses an advantage over the other type, in that the wringing frame does not interfere with the free use of the mop when the frame is slid back on the handle, it has the disadvantage of requiring much more strength to perform the wringing operation than is required with the 2nd type, which latter, however, is disadvantageous on account of the fact that the frame to which the cloth is attached not only interferes with thefree use thereof, but also causes the wear to come in certain places only on the cloth, so that the length of time which the cloth may be used is much less than with the 1st type.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of self-wringing mop which possesses the features of advantage of both types of mop above referred to, without the attendant disadvantages thereof, and which is simple of construction and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture. For an understanding of the means which I employ in accomplishing these objects, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a self-wringing mop made according to my invention, the parts being shown in position for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in position to perform the wringing opera tion. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, the parts being shown in the position of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the position when the wringing-operation is finished. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

In the drawing a indicates a handle having a T-shaped head 6. rigidly secured to the end thereof, the ends of said head being provided with slots or notches b, as shown in Fig. 5. An oblong wire frame 0, is provided, said frame being bent to form a ring 0 at one end, through which the handle a passes, and having the sides thereof slidably mounted in the slots 6 of the head I), so that said frame may be slid longitudinally on the handle, but is held from rotation with relation thereto by the head 7).

A bevel gear 03 is mounted on the shaft of a crank c, said shaft passing through the handle a, at right angles thereto, and said gear 65 is arranged in mesh with a bevel gear f, which is rotatably mounted in a bracket 9, rigidly mounted on the handle. A loop or hook it is provided, having an eye it at one end thereof, which is loosely engaged by a hook i on the end of the shaft of the gear f, so that said hook it may be rotated by said crank e.

A mop-cloth j is provided, which is of the usual doubled, elongated form, its ends being connected after having been passed through the frame 0, and the ring it. The opposite end of the frame 0, from its ring, is formed to provide an engaging bar 0 which is perpendicular to the sides, so that the mop is held by said bar. and by the ing h.

A bracket m is mounted on the handle by a screw n, and is provided with an extension 0 having a hook 0 on the end thereof, said extension being slidably connected to the mainportion m, and a spring 79 being interposed therebetween which is compressed when the extension is drawn outwardly. The bracket m is made to yield toward and from the handle, and is normally held in the full line position of Fig. 3.

In use the frame 0 is drawn up on the handle, so that the bar 0 thereof holds the mop-cloth against the head I), close to the ring A, as shown in Fig. 1, so that it is supported at one end only. In this position the device may be used like an ordinary mop, and the frame 0 does not in any way interfere with the free use thereof, said frame being locked in this position by any suitable means, as the spring catch 9. WVhen it is desired to wring the cloth, the frame 0 is released and pushed downwardly, so that its bar 0 is carried between the folds of the cloth to the opposite end thereof, and the cloth is thus extended and drawn taut, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the ring a of the frame will be held just beyond the hook e as shown in Fig. 3. The operator then presses down the hook 0 with the thumb, so that the hook 0' engages the upper side of ring 0, as shown in Fig. 4. The crank e is then rotated, causing the ring it to twist the 'mop-cloth, also as shown in Fig. 4. As the cloth is twisted it will tend to become shortened, with the result that the frame 0 will be forced upwardly on the handle, and, as the hook 0' is held in engagement with said frame, this movement will be resisted by the spring p, oausing said spring to be compressed as the hook 0 is drawn upward, so that, when the wringing operation is finished, and the crank c is released, said spring will cause the frame 0 to be pushed downwardly to its former position, untwisting the cloth and spreading it out flat, so that the user may then quickly and conveniently draw the frame back to the position of Fig. 1.

As there is a loose, or pivotal connection between the loop h and its supporting gearshaft, the wringing operation is more easily performed than if the connection were rigid, but the loop is also permitted to swing close to the bar 0 when the mop is in use, so that both sides of the cloth may be used without interference by said loop.

Vith the above described construction the mop-cloth may be moved to different relative positions on the holder, so that the wear of the holding parts thereon will not all come on certain parts thereof and the serviceability of the cloth will be thereby increased.

I claim 1. A self-wringing mop comprising a handle having a head fixed thereon, a distending frame having a transverse engaging bar, said frame being slidably mounted on said handle and held from rotation by said head, a rotatable wringing-device adjacent said head, and a mop-cloth connected to said wringing device and doubled about said bar, said bar being movable between the folds of the cloth from a point adjacent said head to the opposite end of the cloth, substantially as described.

2. A self-wringing mop comprising a handle having a head fixed thereon, a distending frame having a transverse engaglng bar, said frame being slidably mounted on said handle and held from rotation by said head, a rotatable wringing-device adjacent said head, a mop-cloth connected to said wringing device and doubled about said bar, said bar being movable between the folds of the cloth from a point adjacent said head to the opposite end of the cloth, and means for yieldingly holding said frame from sliding movement against the action of said wringing device, subst-an tially as described.

3. A self-wringing mop comprising a handle having a head fixed thereon, a distending frame having a transverse engaging bar, said frame being slidably mounted on said handle and held from rotation by said head, a rotatable wringing-device adjacent said head, a mop-cloth connected to said wringing device and doubled about said bar, said bar being movable between the folds of the cloth from a point adjacent said head to the opposite end of the cloth, and a yielding extensible catch for holding said frame from sliding movement against the action of said wringing device, substantially as described.

A. A self-wringing mop comprising a handle having a head fixed thereon, a distending frame having a transverse engaging bar, said frame being slidably mounted on said handle and held from rotation by said head, a rotatable wringing-device adjacent said head, and comprising a rotary shaft and a loop pivotally connected to one end of said shaft, and a mop-cloth passing through said hook and doubled about said bar, said bar being movable between the folds of the cloth from a point adjacent said head to the opposite end of the cloth and said loop being arranged to swing into close proximity with said bar when the bar is in its position adjacent said head, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED O. TARBOX.

Vitnesses:

L. H. HARRIMAN, H. B. DAVIS.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

